Editing The Pen Addict 266/transcript (section)

== Visconti Divina Elegance ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' The Visconti Divina Elegance. I'm surprised at the notes you wrote about this pen. So, tell me what you think about this pen.

'''Myke Hurley:''' This is the style of Visconti Divina that I very nearly purchased at the London Pen Show. Like, I had it in my hands. I was turning it around. But it was the first pen that I saw. So, I was like, I'll come back to it. And then I found a couple of other things that I wanted even more. And I went with them. Like, I got my Twist pen there. Which, you know, I've always wanted the pen from Twist. And it was really nice. And it wasn't too expensive. So, I went with that one. Because that one, like, it just knocked me off my feet. Right? Like, the Mother of Pearl look about it. It was beautiful.

'''Myke Hurley:''' But this Visconti, like, I picked it up. I was twirling it around in my hands. It feels so beautiful to hold. It looks incredible. They have their, like, their locking mechanism. Their, like, hook and lock system, as it's called out by Susan in the review. Which keeps the spiral in the material lined up. Which is genius. Because I would never, ever buy a pen like this if it didn't have something like that. Right. Because I would lose my mind trying to get it to line up. Right. Like, if this just had regular threads, I wouldn't be able to cope. Right. The Visconti that I was looking at was nowhere near as expensive as this one. I assume this is some kind of limited special edition. Right? Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I don't know if this one is or not. But it's a very expensive pen. It's like $1,200. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' And the one that I was looking at, you know, I mean, I was buying from a seller. But it was, like, in the 400 pound range or something like that. Yeah. So, I mean, not cheap. Not cheap. No, no, no. Right? But, like, not $1,200.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Right. They have one called a Burlwood that's in the same Davina pattern that I was tempted by. But I just, I can't get over the swirl aspect. Like, this is a pen I appreciate for its craftsmanship and style and look. But it's not a pen that I would use. Interesting. So, it's kind of, it's, like, off the shopping list for me. Although, it's a stunner. I mean, there's, like, nothing I don't like except the using part. Like, I wouldn't ever use this pen just because it doesn't really fit me and my style and what I like on a pen. But I understand the beauty of it.

'''Myke Hurley:''' This is the only Visconti that I would buy. And it's still on my, the back of my mind list. Like, one day it's likely that I will pick one of these up.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Because I love it. I really, really love it. Like, it's, I think it's fantastic.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. So, what about the Aurora 88 Minerale that we talked about last week in depth? So, we don't need to go into it too much. But I put up my review and it was essentially the same comments that I said. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' The review was really interesting to me. Just, like, from a meta level. It was incredibly short for you. And I think that, you know. I had that same thought. I think it's relatively telling in, like, well, there isn't much of a story here. Right? Like, you've already reviewed other Aurora pens. It looks like other Aurora pens. I mean, you were very kind about the looks of it. Which I agree with mostly. Right, Doc? I think it looks really nice. But I think we both have criticisms about how it was made, maybe. That are concerns. Right? About, like, where did the material actually come from? You know, like, are these blue and yellow and red parts just reused offcuts? Right? And, like, does that really then? That's just fine. That's how manufacturers make their money. It's fine. But does a pen like that warrant $716 as a price tag? I don't know. Right. Right? Like, if it was half of that, no problem. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Like, I will. I think I will eventually own one of these pens. It just might be a couple of years when I can get one for, like, $450, maybe. I don't know. Maybe that's dreaming.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I will. No doubt pay that money. Because I want an Aurora, and I think these are really nice. And they have a bunch of different colors, plus it's demonstrator, and they look good as demonstrators. Because they're... What is the filling system? Piston. It's piston.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' That's what I was looking for. It's a wonderful piston filler and a wonderful nib. Yeah. I love it. I mean, everything about this pen is great, except them. It's very expensive for what it is, I think.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah. I couldn't pay $700 for this. I just couldn't. Yeah.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' I think I paid $450 for my Optima, and I was happy about that. Yeah. And that's about it. Like, I don't... There's not enough difference... There's not, you know, $250 worth of difference to me in this, to justify this pen, limited or not. Yeah.

'''Myke Hurley:''' It was basically, you know, in the review, as I expected, the price is the stumbling block. And it really... It's a big one. It's a big stumbling block.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' But it's funny that you noticed it was short, and no one else has said that. But when I finished it, I was like, ah, this is kind of short. Like, I did the... Popped up the little word count in Bear app that I write in. And I was like, ah, this is kind of short. And I started rereading it again. I was like, what could I add here that would improve this review? And it was really nothing. Like, I'm not going to add specs. There isn't. You know, I'm not going to add dimensions and things that are just filler. Because I've talked about this style of pen enough. I've reviewed these types of pens before. Other people have reviewed these types of pens before. So I just more wanted to comment on the Minerali as an idea as opposed to a technical review of a pen I've never used before. Right?

'''Myke Hurley:''' Mm-hmm. Yeah.